blog » other ways to sweathttp://lululemon.com/community/blog
Read about yoga and running, inspirational goal setting, meditation, healthy snacks, travel stories, playlists and an overwhelming love of life.Wed, 28 Jan 2015 17:54:25 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.1ruby’s tuesday | sign of a good sweathttp://lululemon.com/community/blog/rubys-tuesday-astro-workout/
http://lululemon.com/community/blog/rubys-tuesday-astro-workout/#commentsTue, 13 Aug 2013 13:00:23 +0000http://blogadmin.lululemon.com/community/blog/?p=43188Whether it's interviewing Lady Gaga, unveiling the latest trends in fashion, or getting under the skin of our most neurotic social trends, Ruby Warrington is the writer at the forefront of it all.

Ruby is a British lifestyle writer and the celebrated creator of the blog The Numinous. Best of all, Ruby will be our feature writer for the lululemon blog. Here she digs deeper on the vegan secret supper club.

I confess, I’m a total astrology geek, and at the end of July I headed to Tulum on a ‘Become Your Own Astrologer’ retreat with my favourite star sisters Tali and Ophira Edut, a.k.a. the Astro Twins.

In between Mayan mud bathing rituals and Qoya dance classes, we spent two hours every day learning how to read and decipher our birth charts, as well as those of the people we love (or maybe don’t get along so well with) – my idea of heaven.

Of course, with fitness on the brain as usual, my newfound astro knowledge also got me thinking about what workouts will be most motivating for each sign. Over to you, twins…

aries

As the zodiac’s warrior, you will be motivated by anything that’s strenuous and challenges you to push yourself beyond your edge. You love to continually be in awe of your own expansion and capabilities, so skip the slow and steady Hatha yoga class, and try a high-energy cardio session with some martial arts or boxing moves thrown in. Add in a pumping soundtrack, visualise yourself beating up the bad guys in your life (including the ones in your head: a.k.a. negative thoughts) and it'll be a case of Rocky, who? But as Aries rules the head, if you find yourself sparring with a partner for real don't forget your helmet.

taurus

Boot-camp style classes were made for no-nonsense Taurus. Although you have your lazy lounging days, when you're ready to work, you go at it hard! Plus you love to see results from your steady efforts (wax on, wax off, Bull!). And, as the ruler of the throat, letting rip a healthy yell will help you power on through to the end of each set. Results-driven Taurus will also be drawn in by the claims of classes like Barry's Bootcamp (1,000 calories an hour!), and the structure of the Insanity workout. 60-days to a brand new you? Show me the dotted line.

gemini

Gregarious Gemini, you're a die-hard people person. Socializing is your favorite motivator, so let that extend to your fitness regime and you'll get in the best shape ever. You could ping a friend to be your gym or yoga buddy (provided she gives more than your ear a workout). Tennis and other two-person sports do you well too; you might even try a relay race. You do especially when with a trainer too, someone dedicated to your accountability who can also listen to you talk through (the way you process) your blocks to progress.

cancer

As a water sign, any pool-based workout will appeal to you. You're often the center of your social circle, so gather a few of your girls together for an aqua aerobics class. Sporty Cancers might even join a water polo or H2O volleyball class. If you want your workout to incorporate some alone time, the twisting motion of swimming strokes could be useful for your sensitive digestion, while jogging in place and even doing crunches while feeling perfectly weightless will strengthen your lungs. Then, make a splash on dry land with your lean, mean swimmer’s body.

leo

Let the good times roll...over into your workout with any kind of dance-based class, perfect for Leo for whom life is a nonstop excuse to celebrate! If exercise feels like a fiesta, you won't even notice that you're exerting yourself: the perfect way to burn, baby, burn. A Zumba workout, the self-proclaimed “fitness party” moves to your lionhearted beat, while any class that replicates the moves from your favourite music videos (by fellow Leo Madonna, or Jennifer Lopez perhaps?) will also get you energized. Since your sign rules the back, be sure to stretch before and after!

virgo

The core region is Virgo’s domain, so a workout that targets this area of your body will also strengthen your inner resolve. While Pilates can do wonders, Virgos also love yoga, especially modalities with specific health benefits and repeating postures for you to perfect. You'll notice the nuances and love being able to master each asana as you develop a practice. Bonus if you can do those poses outdoors, as being an earth sign, fresh air is always a great component to add in. Otherwise, choose a studio with gorgeous views, natural light and wood flooring.

libra

As the sign that rules beauty, Libra’s workout buttons will be pressed by anything that makes you feel gorgeous and graceful. Why not use your body to create lovely forms and postures while burning calories? Try Barre or any kind of dance class. If you're so-inclined (and not afraid of heights), and with your need for balance, you could become a master of the trapeze, swinging through the air and tantalizing with your lovely form. And never forget that Libra also rules the posterior region, (hello, Kim Kardashian) so a shapely bum is your birth right. That should be motivation enough to get moving!

scorpio

As the zodiac’s sex symbol, working out always gets your mojo revving—what with all the seductive endorphins and serotonin flooding your body. And while a pole-dancing workout will obviously appeal to the siren in you, your inner spirit junkie (cue fellow Scorpio, May Cause Miracles author Gabrielle Bernstein) might like to weave in the sacred element of Kundalini yoga. Hello, second chakra breath work! Scorpio also rules the sex organs, so you were born to be mistress of the 'mula bunda', or root lock. Squeeze it up!

sagittarius

Some like it hot, especially fire sign Sagittarius who can survive (and thrive) in a sweltering heated yoga session. You're the zodiac's philosopher, but this is one workout that can help you turn your brain OFF for a minute—a blessed relief – and, as ruler of the liver, you’ll also respond well to the detoxifying properties that sweating can bring. Since you love to discover new terrain, urban hikes—or ones in nature—are also right up your alley. But set your watch, you might get so carried away you forget to come home for dinner!

capricorn

The zodiac’s mountain goat loves any sort of ambitious ascent, as well as a workout that gives you a feeling of true progress and accomplishment. So whether indoors or out, give rock climbing a try. Not only will you love the challenge, should you struggle and fall, you’ll pick yourself back up and try again…something your sign is all about. Never satisfied, with just "good enough," you might also try a competitive sport, one you can slowly but surely master with regular training and practice. But always watch your knees, a Capricorn weak spot.

aquarius

Running for a cause is right up humanitarian Aquarius's street, so track down a running club dedicated to notching up miles for charity and raising funds. Humanitarian spirit? Check. Love of people? Check, check, check. And if putting in all those hours of training gets repetitive, feed your imaginative side and need for social stimulus with a team sport. Join a soccer or softball league, become part of a dance troupe. As long as you can bring your individual flair to the team, you'll be in your element!

pisces

As the ballerina of the zodiac, you’ll feel right at home in Mary Ellen Bowers' Ballet Beautiful class (but watch your sensitive feet if you go up en pointe), while your inner fish will also love the water-based version - so get online to find your local synchronised swimming troupe. Dreamy Pisces need lots of meditative moments to stay balanced, and lap swimming helps you zone out in your private world. Pop on the goggles to get back in the flow and soothe your often turbulent moods. The world will look much brighter after you've emerged from the pool.

]]>http://lululemon.com/community/blog/rubys-tuesday-astro-workout/feed/1goal-getter: dan wellshttp://lululemon.com/community/blog/goal-getter-dan-wells/
http://lululemon.com/community/blog/goal-getter-dan-wells/#commentsMon, 22 Jul 2013 15:54:50 +0000http://blogadmin.lululemon.com/community/blog/?p=42252
I used to roll my third eye whenever a CrossFitter would blather on about their WOD and proudly show off a new hand callus, still trickling with fresh blood. I didn’t get their seemingly inane quest to become stronger or appreciate their covert language of AMRAPS, EMOM, PRs… until I tried CrossFit for myself.

In response, I simply want to introduce them to Dan Wells – lululemon ambassador and owner of CrossFit Horsepower (CFHP) – and the family of 400+ remarkable individuals he has united to achieve greatness in barely a year’s time.
What makes CFHP so special, is the devoted husband and father who took a huge leap by investing everything in his desire to invest in others. With CrossFit, Dan discovered a life-transforming ‘program’ that he felt compelled to share, infusing his own badassery.

Successful CPA, turned Investment Banker, turned actor, and fitness expert (regularly featured on popular news and entertainment TV programs), Dan is no stranger to setting personal goals and embracing sizeable risks to crush them. Who better to be the catalyst to spur others to achieve theirs?

Alongside him, Dan forged an insanely inspirational team of coaches, including a world-renowned CrossFit athlete, Yogi stunt woman, former Navy SEAL, champion gymnast, and lululemon educator (who teaches yoga at his box!). Together, they have shaped hundreds of bodies, minds, and hearts by pushing people beyond their comfort zone, and perceived limits, subsequently instilling a relentless courage. This courage seeps into life outside of the box, creating leaders who radiate their infectious light throughout the local community.

Collectively, the CFHP ‘family’ has shed not only hundreds of pounds, but also countless insecurities, fears and doubts. Dreaded burpees and loaded barbells have led members to find soul-mates, best friends and unwavering confidence. After mere months of training at CFHP, 18-year old Mo reclaimed his foregone goal of going to medical school, believing now that he can handle anything. Each member I’ve met has their own special story. And, each learns to take accountability for their own triumphs, as well as one another’s: whether it’s achieving a strict pull-up, the holy grail muscle-up, or that new job. And, while there is a lot of sweat, tears and the occasional blood (dang Cindy!), there is even more laughter, love and …well, sweat.

Dan Wells simply inspires everyone to be the best versions of themselves they can be, inside and outside of his CrossFit box. #gratitude

Our web channel manager, Jurgen, set a goal three years ago to complete BC Bike Race, an arduous seven-day stage race from Victoria to Whistler. Little did he know, passion would drive him to crush his goal three years earlier then planned.

Writing out my goals is scary.

Especially when they have a tendency of becoming a reality faster than I expect.

Three years ago, I decided to get back into bike racing after a 15-year hiatus that included going to school, starting a career, and having kids. Riding in the BC Bike Race was a goal that I wanted to reach by 2016. Knowing that this is an epically long race, it meant logging some serious base miles and fitness in the legs.

BC Bike Race is a seven-day mountain bike stage race that traverses coastal BC single track on some of the most beautifully epic trails the province has to offer. Starting in Vancouver on day zero, the race travels to the north end of Vancouver Island, back through the Sunshine Coast, and finishes in Whistler on day seven.

Over the course of the week, 550 riders from 26 countries will cover over 330km and climb the equivalent of Mount Everest. No big deal, right?

I’ve always envisioned my life being full of adventures along the way keeping me fit and stoked - BC Bike Race is one of those.

Along the way, there were a lot of obstacles that prevented me from attaining this goal and I kept pushing this out into a distant future instead of really going after it.

This past winter, a funny thing happened.

I actually declared this goal out loud to my wife, friends, and colleagues that I want to make this happen. The power of crowd sourcing brings out karmic forces that you don’t really see until you’ve asked for it. Before I knew it, this dream started becoming a reality thanks to some pretty instrumental people in my life and some serious support at home.

Now comes the fun stuff…training!

Since January, I’ve logged well over 2500km on the bike getting ready with countless rides in the sleet, snow and sunshine.

Getting the chance to ride was only part of the goal. The real work started when I knew I had five months to get race ready to tackle this week of riding. Ride, rest, eat, yoga, massage, repeat for 20 weeks.

Am I ready? I guess we’ll see on June 29th when we start this adventure.

If you were to look up the words “inspiration” and “possibility” in the dictionary we’re quite certain you’d find our former educator, Betsy’s, name listed in their descriptions (hey Oxford, we’re proposing a rewrite). Not only did she find the courage to leave an unfulfilling career in HR to follow her dreams of being a life coach, she also recently crushed a jaw-dropping goal: 365 days of sweat (which is exactly what it sounds like it is).

Rumor has it you set a BHAG to sweat for 365 days. True?
Yes. I am a firm believer of the statement, "you have to live it to give it." As a life coach, I wanted to make sure that I was living a healthy life that had a consistent workout ritual (which I preach often). Not only were my workouts inconsistent, I also knew I was capable of a whole lot more. Last October (2011) I was on a run in a park and the idea popped up in my head. After the run, I came up with a name for the adventure and started blogging that evening. Initially the blog was a way that my friends and family could help hold me accountable to my goal but it transitioned into a beautiful space of inspiration for others.

So did you really sweat 365 days in a row?
Yes and no. I worked out for 365 days in a row but sometimes my body needed a break and I listened. Those days I would walk for 45 minutes in my neighborhood or go to a slower paced yoga class. I did not sweat (much), I just moved. It is important to listen to what your body needs no matter what your fitness goals are. When you are able to truly listen, you will be able to complete the goal a lot easier than if you push it so hard that it breaks.

What did achieving the goal mean to you?
The most important thing that it taught me is how powerful I can be when I fully commit myself to something. Everyone has self doubt and for me it kept coming back to, "you cannot complete anything!" By finishing this goal I was able to prove myself oh-so wrong. Now that I know that I am capable of completing things, my world seems endlessly full of possibilities. That's a pretty wonderful feeling.

Was there ever a point where you wanted to throw in the towel?
There were a few times when I felt like throwing the towel in my husband’s face! However his patience and soft encouraging words helped to keep me going. I have to admit that working out while you have the flu is one of the worst feelings around!

Favourite ways to sweat?
Good ole' fashioned running outside and yoga. Right before my wedding I became addicted to Yoga Sculpt (a power yoga class with weights and cardio) because of the high-intensity it helped lower my stress levels. My advice to future brides? Find a class similar to this and thank me later!

So does this mean you had to workout on your wedding day?
Yes! My bridesmaids and I ran a mile to a local park, where another one of my friends met us to lead 45 minutes of yoga. A few family members also came along for the ride. It was a beautiful way to start a day that celebrated love!

Did you try a bunch of different ways to sweat to change it up?
I did but I kept coming back to my favorites. I found that it was easiest to stick to my goal by doing the tried and true workouts most of the time. The strangest thing I did was going to a fitness concert in Denver called "OMG Fitness!" There were over 1,000 people wearing all white covered with glow in the dark paint, while completing a bootcamp class. I sweated my butt off, danced like a maniac and walked out of the event with my friend in hysterics. It completely pushed me out of my comfort zone and I am always thankful for that - primarily when I am done!

Hit us with some words of wisdom – what else did you learn?
Like anything in life, you make the things that are important to you a priority. If you do not have your health, then you have no life. Deep, right? Take care of your health and cultivate it by providing yourself with a healthy lifestyle. You will thank yourself a thousand times over for all of the benefits that continue to unfold.

Also, let go of the expectations that you have for what your body should look like. I thought that by the end of this my love handles would be non-existent. Nope, although they are smaller, they still linger around like that last guest at a dinner party. Once I was able to let go of what I thought my body should look like, I began to love my body as it is. Same goes with what my body is capable of during workouts. No hefty expectations means less pain. Try it, it feels so much better than hankering for a life of six-pack abs.

Anyone else out there attempt something like this before?

]]>http://lululemon.com/community/blog/365-days-of-sweat/feed/16trainer tip: how to burpeehttp://lululemon.com/community/blog/trainer-tip-how-to-burpee/
http://lululemon.com/community/blog/trainer-tip-how-to-burpee/#commentsMon, 23 Jul 2012 20:09:38 +0000http://www.lululemon.com/community/blog/?p=32617Was that a groan we just heard? In an effort to transform our relationship with burpees from fearful to fun, we asked one of our favourite trainers and Logan Circle ambassador, Errick McAdams, to break down the drill for us. We’ll know we’ve mastered it when we have a smile as big as Errick’s when we’re done.